by Damian Walker - Thingiverse
The Traditional Board Game Series Leaflet #1: Tablut
TABLUT over and the Swedes have won. 13. If the Muscovite attackers capture the Swedish king, then the game is over and the Muscovites have won. 14. If play becomes repetitious, if one player is unable to move, or if the players otherwise desire it, then a draw may be declared.
Swedish king is in a position where there are two separate paths to the edge of the board, and he can escape by either path next turn, then his escape cannot be prevented, as the Muscovites will only be able to block one path. At this point the Swedish player must announce tuichu, at which point the game is
by Damian Walker
FURTHER INFORMATION Those requiring further information would do well to consult the following books: Bell, R. C. Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations, vol. 1, pp. 77-79. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1979. Murray, H. J. R. A History of Board-Games Other Than Chess, pp. 6364. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1952. Parlett, D. The Oxford History of Board Games, pp. 203-204. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Copyright © Damian Walker 2011 - http://boardgames.cyningstan.org.uk/
4
Board Games at CYNINGSTAN Traditional Board Game Series (Second Edition) Leaflet #1
The Traditional Board Game Series Leaflet #1: Tablut
INTRODUCTION & HISTORY In 1732, the famous Swedish botanist Linnaeus took a tour of Lapland, keeping a journal of all that interested him. Among the non-botanical observations that he included in this journal were the rules of an unfamiliar game being played by the Sami people among whom he found himself. This game is tablut, a late survivor from a family of games
called hnefatafl, much played by the Vikings and taken to the various lands they visited, raided and settled in. The object of this game, played between Swedes and Muscovites, differs for each side. The Muscovites must capture the Swedish king, while the Swedes endeavour to help their king to safety.
HOW TO PLAY Linnaeus, being unfamiliar with the game, omitted one or two particulars in his rendition of the rules. These omissions have been the cause of a diverse collection of reconstructions, some of which are better than others. The one provided here cannot claim universal pre-eminence, but is recommended as an attempt to provide a reconstruction that is balanced and playable, while remaining consistent with Linnaeus's original, and not presuming to try and identify errors on his part.
Beginning the Game
1. Tablut is played by two people, on a board of nine squares by nine, one player taking control of the Swedish king and his eight defenders, the other taking control of the sixteen Muscovite attackers. The king's central square is called the castle. 2. At the start of the game, the king and his defenders occupy the space in the middle of the board, with the Muscovites distributed around the edge, as in Illustration 1. 3. The Swedish side Illustration 1: the tablut board, with pieces makes the first set out for play. 2
The Traditional Board Game Series Leaflet #1: Tablut
tackers. 8. If the Swedish king is sat beside the castle, it is impossible for the Muscovite attackers to surround him completely. In this case, he can be captured by attackers if they surround him on three sides, the castle being on the fourth side. 9. If the Swedish king is surrounded on three sides by Muscovite attackers, and on the fourth side by a Swedish defender, the defender may be captured by sandwiching it between the king and an attacker. 10. A Muscovite attacker may move voluntarily between two Swedish defenders without being captured. A defender must move away and back again to capture the attacker. A defender may likewise place himself between two attackers without harm.
move, after which the Muscovites make a move, play alternating thereafter until the game is finished. Moving the Pieces 4. All pieces move horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally. A piece may move in this manner as far as the player wishes, but it may not leap over, nor land on, another piece. See Illustration 2. 5. No piece other than the king may land on the castle. Pieces may, however, pass over it, as it does not block the way. Capturing Enemies
6. A Muscovite attacker may be captured by sandwiching him between two Swedish defenders, horizontally or vertically but not diagonally. A defender may be captured by two attackers in the same manner. The king may not himself take part in capturing attackers. 7. The Swedish king may Illustration 2: some examples of movement be captured by and capture. The upper black piece cannot surrounding him land on the central square. The lower piece capture the white piece at the left, the on all four sides may king above or the king to the right. Two by Muscovite at- kings are shown for illustration purposes. 3
Ending the Game 11. The Swedish player has won if the king reaches any square at the edge of the board. If the king is moved to a place whence he can make this escape next turn, the player must announce raichi. 12. If the
TABLUT over and the Swedes have won. 13. If the Muscovite attackers capture the Swedish king, then the game is over and the Muscovites have won. 14. If play becomes repetitious, if one player is unable to move, or if the players otherwise desire it, then a draw may be declared.
Swedish king is in a position where there are two separate paths to the edge of the board, and he can escape by either path next turn, then his escape cannot be prevented, as the Muscovites will only be able to block one path. At this point the Swedish player must announce tuichu, at which point the game is
by Damian Walker
FURTHER INFORMATION Those requiring further information would do well to consult the following books: Bell, R. C. Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations, vol. 1, pp. 77-79. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1979. Murray, H. J. R. A History of Board-Games Other Than Chess, pp. 6364. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1952. Parlett, D. The Oxford History of Board Games, pp. 203-204. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Copyright © Damian Walker 2011 - http://boardgames.cyningstan.org.uk/
4
Board Games at CYNINGSTAN Traditional Board Game Series (Second Edition) Leaflet #1
The Traditional Board Game Series Leaflet #1: Tablut
INTRODUCTION & HISTORY In 1732, the famous Swedish botanist Linnaeus took a tour of Lapland, keeping a journal of all that interested him. Among the non-botanical observations that he included in this journal were the rules of an unfamiliar game being played by the Sami people among whom he found himself. This game is tablut, a late survivor from a family of games
called hnefatafl, much played by the Vikings and taken to the various lands they visited, raided and settled in. The object of this game, played between Swedes and Muscovites, differs for each side. The Muscovites must capture the Swedish king, while the Swedes endeavour to help their king to safety.
HOW TO PLAY Linnaeus, being unfamiliar with the game, omitted one or two particulars in his rendition of the rules. These omissions have been the cause of a diverse collection of reconstructions, some of which are better than others. The one provided here cannot claim universal pre-eminence, but is recommended as an attempt to provide a reconstruction that is balanced and playable, while remaining consistent with Linnaeus's original, and not presuming to try and identify errors on his part.
Beginning the Game
1. Tablut is played by two people, on a board of nine squares by nine, one player taking control of the Swedish king and his eight defenders, the other taking control of the sixteen Muscovite attackers. The king's central square is called the castle. 2. At the start of the game, the king and his defenders occupy the space in the middle of the board, with the Muscovites distributed around the edge, as in Illustration 1. 3. The Swedish side Illustration 1: the tablut board, with pieces makes the first set out for play. 2
The Traditional Board Game Series Leaflet #1: Tablut
tackers. 8. If the Swedish king is sat beside the castle, it is impossible for the Muscovite attackers to surround him completely. In this case, he can be captured by attackers if they surround him on three sides, the castle being on the fourth side. 9. If the Swedish king is surrounded on three sides by Muscovite attackers, and on the fourth side by a Swedish defender, the defender may be captured by sandwiching it between the king and an attacker. 10. A Muscovite attacker may move voluntarily between two Swedish defenders without being captured. A defender must move away and back again to capture the attacker. A defender may likewise place himself between two attackers without harm.
move, after which the Muscovites make a move, play alternating thereafter until the game is finished. Moving the Pieces 4. All pieces move horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally. A piece may move in this manner as far as the player wishes, but it may not leap over, nor land on, another piece. See Illustration 2. 5. No piece other than the king may land on the castle. Pieces may, however, pass over it, as it does not block the way. Capturing Enemies
6. A Muscovite attacker may be captured by sandwiching him between two Swedish defenders, horizontally or vertically but not diagonally. A defender may be captured by two attackers in the same manner. The king may not himself take part in capturing attackers. 7. The Swedish king may Illustration 2: some examples of movement be captured by and capture. The upper black piece cannot surrounding him land on the central square. The lower piece capture the white piece at the left, the on all four sides may king above or the king to the right. Two by Muscovite at- kings are shown for illustration purposes. 3
Ending the Game 11. The Swedish player has won if the king reaches any square at the edge of the board. If the king is moved to a place whence he can make this escape next turn, the player must announce raichi. 12. If the
